New York—“I
am appalled that a former Dominican Republic president and a potential
future presidential candidate has used a derogatory term that is
offensive, inappropriate and hurtful toward LGBT people. President Mejia
needs to apologize to the LGBT community in his
country and here in New York, where he made this unacceptable
statement. Leaders are called to unite people, not divide us. That
includes those who invited him here and stayed silent when
discrimination occured and even worse, laughed at it. I stand with the
LGBT community here, in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere, and I
will not be silent when bigotry shows its ugly face.”